In a significant blow to former President Jacob Zuma’s political ambitions, the Constitutional Court has dismissed the urgent application by his MK Party to interdict the sitting of the National Assembly scheduled for Friday to elect a new president.
The country’s apex court delivered the judgment late on Wednesday night, ruling that it was neither within its jurisdiction to hear the case nor in the interest of justice to grant the MK Party direct access.
The court found that the MK Party had failed to show any justification for not bringing the application sooner, despite being aware of the constitutional requirement to convene the National Assembly within 14 days of the election results. The court deemed the party’s urgency as self-created.
Furthermore, the Constitutional Court stated that the MK Party application had failed on its merits, as the party had not made a convincing case for the granting of an interim interdict. The court noted that the party had not demonstrated that it would suffer irreparable harm if the interdict was not granted, nor had it established a clear prima facie case for the relief it sought.
The judgment also highlighted the adverse consequences the requested relief would have had on other parties who were not properly served. Consequently, the Constitutional Court dismissed the MK Party’s application in its entirety.
This ruling represents a significant setback for former President Zuma’s political aspirations, as it clears the way for the National Assembly to proceed with the election of a new president on Friday. The decision underscores the independence and integrity of South Africa’s judiciary, as it upholds the constitutional principles and due process in the democratic transition of power.
